John Dubzinski knew, when he stepped down as North Andover High head football coach following the 2024 season, that he would one day return to the sidelines.
He just didn’t know when, and he didn’t know where.
“At the time I had to be home,” he said. “There were some issues at home, and it was all hands on deck with what was going on with my family. It’s getting better. But when I stepped away, I knew I wanted to coach again. It had to be a job that was close to home, and it had to be close to where I teach (North Andover High). So I knew there would be limited choices.
“When the Central Catholic job opened up, it was a no-brainer. If you’re a coach, you want to compete at the highest competitive level possible. Central Catholic is the place. When this job came up, knew I had to go for it.”
One of the most successful gridiron coaches in modern area history will now lead the Central Catholic football program, with former rival Dubzinski officially named Raiders head football coach on Friday.
“It’s funny how life works,” said Dubzinski. “You never would have thought, a few years ago, that I would be here (as Central Catholic coach). But things happen for a reason. People take different journeys and different paths in life. People’s lives intersect. I believe this happened for a reason, and I’m psyched it happened.”
Dubzinski’s time as North Andover head coach was, of course, nothing short of stellar. He went 59-47 in 10 years, winning the 2018 Division 2 state title and added two more North Finals trips.
He faced Central Catholic twice while leading the Knights, earning a 14-7 victory as part of their perfect 12-0 season in 2018, then falling to the Raiders 33-26 in 2019 — when both teams went to their respective North title games.
His gridiron journey, though, began long before he arrived at North Andover.
Dubzinski grew up part of a legendary Central Mass., coaching family. His dad, John Dubzinski Sr., is a member of the Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame who won 181 games as Leominster High head coach. His late grandfather Walter Sr., and uncle Walter Jr., are also Mass. Hall of Famers.
“Since my father was a football coach, I was raised in locker rooms,” he said. “I was always a water boy. When I was 4-years-old, my dad was the head coach at Fitchburg, and they were the Red Raiders. Now I’m a Raider. So it’s kind of full circle.
“The reputation of the Central Catholic program is amazing. It’s a reputation that was forged by (football coaches) Chuck Adamopoulos and Mike Cassano. Central Catholic has great coaches, great kids and great alumni. Our goal is to make the alumni proud.”
Dubzinski went on to star for his father at Leominster, leading the Blue Devils to the 1997 Central/Western Mass. Super Bowl, then at Bates College (Lewiston, Maine).
He served as an assistant on some great Everett teams from 2003-08, then was an assistant for two years at Medford before spending four seasons as head coach at Arlington High, going 23-21. He then took over the North Andover job in 2018.
“John’s coaching resume speaks for itself,” said Central Catholic athletic director Zach Blaszak. “But his energy, attitude and his focus on culture and development of student-athletes into successful young men are also exceptional. He’s an educator who understands today’s high school student-athletes, and comes from a great family with an amazing coaching and education background.
“Dubz was highly impressive throughout the interview process, and we are excited to see the impact he makes on our storied football program and school community.”
Now, Dubzinski — who will continue to teach at North Andover High and lives in Andover — will turn his attention to building a staff, and getting ready for the fall season an beyond.
“The biggest thing is to start building relationships with the kids,” he said. “We want to build trust and be visible. There has been uncertainty there, so the kids want to put a face to the name and establish good relationships. We want to build a staff of good role models who will be up-beat, passionate and enthusiastic every day, while pushing the kids to help them be successful and get to the next level. We aren’t talking about wins and championships now. Right now, it’s about building a family an growing together.”
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